EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ - Following a 3-1 vote by the East Brunswick Town Council on Monday night, the section of Route 18 South beginning at Eggers Street and ending at Ferris Street has been designated as an "area in need of redevelopment." Numerous store closings, declining architecture, safety concerns, and traffic problems have turned the area into a zone in need of renewal and, perhaps, repurposing. The Council is about halfway through an eight-step process that identifies, defines, and addresses decline on Route 18.

The process began with information acquistion, moved on to examination and review, mapped out the zone in question, and, at the midpoint, produced a recommendation to designate the area for redevelopment. Monday night's vote confirming the area's status permits East Brunswick to create a representative committee to plan for the most effective use of the area.

Mayor David Stahl noted, "50 years ago, East Brunswick was a center of commerce." However, he also pointed out that East Brunswick is still suffering from the effects of recession. "East Brunswick is a 'built out' community," suggesting that there is no more room for development, just re-development following deconstruction. According to njfuture.org, "More generally, two-thirds (217 out of 328) of the municipalities that presently have fewer residents than at their peak are primarily “built out,” meaning that, based on 2007 data, at least 90 percent of their land area was already developed. These places lost population but retained their developed land, so they could be repopulated simply be refilling that land to its prior capacity."

Mayor Stahl also noted that some property owners are letting their properties go untenanted or unrepaired. He was hopeful that the redevelopment process could "prevent, arrest, and reverse" the decline of properties in East Brunswick.

Some people feel that the redevelopment will just be an opportunity for developers to do what they want to make money in the township. Councilman Michael Spadafino, who abstained from the final vote, cited the lack of consistency between what the township desired for the "Golden Triangle" plan and what was actually delivered by developers.

During the meeting, there was much discussion about the "plan" for East Brunswick redevelopment. East Brunswick Board of Education President Dr. Brad Cohen expressed concern about the possible impact of apartment buildings on the school system. Dr. Cohen described the quality of the EB public schools as "the main reason why people live here...The residents do not want apartments." He also referred to some ideas present in the book The End of the Suburbs by Leigh Gallagher which suggests that the suburbs are affected by factors including the price of gas and the decline of the nuclear family.

Several community members spoke about their concerns, mostly focusing on the "lack of a plan" for the redevelopment. Mayor Stahl reaffirmed that the plan comes after the designation, "Having the designation allows us to create a plan." He discussed the creation of a committee of township stakeholders - businesses, schools, residents, members of the planning board, and members of the council - that would work toward the creation of a redevelopment plan that would both keep the character of East Brunswick and get rid of underutilized and outdated property on Route 18.

An off-duty Sayrevillle police sergeant is facing criminal charges in an alleged DWI incident in Old Bridge which left one person in critical condition, according to a new release by Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey and Chief William Volkert of the Old Bridge Police Department

Jeffrey Kutz, 57, an off-duty Sayreville Police Sergeant from Marlboro, is charged with Driving While ...

An off-duty Sayrevillle police sergeant is facing criminal charges in an alleged DWI incident in ...

TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Patrick Diegnan, which would establish a task-force to implement the recommendations made in the “Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act,” was approved by the Senate today.

“Bullying of any kind in our schools is a major issue, and has been for a long time,” said Senator Diegnan (D-Middlesex). “In order to create a safer environment for our students we ...

TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Patrick Diegnan, which would establish a task-force to ...

MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NJ - Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey announced that on Sunday, December 16, 2018, the Middlesex County Canine Search and Rescue Team lost its patriarch, Canine 832 Joker’s Wild, who was diagnosed with progressive cancer at age ten (10).

Commonly called “Joker”, he was a purebred search bloodhound purchased from the 832 K-9’s Deputy Dogs Kody Snodgrass ...

MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NJ - Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey announced that on Sunday, ...

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ - Vitor Silva is making everything old new again. The owner of Built by Me, an interactive workspace for young learners featuring after-school and school break programs, thinks that kids learn by doing, that effort (and sometimes even failure) brings success, and that pride comes from earned accomplishment. Sounds like some valuable old-school ideas about learning are being ...

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ - Vitor Silva is making everything old new again. The owner of Built by Me, an ...

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ - In an effort to protect the safety of students coming in and around the Middlesex County Vocational and Technical High School located at the intersection of Rues Lane and Summerhill Road, the East Brunswick Township Council has passed an ordinance to lower the speed limit in all directions within 200 feetof the school when students are "clearly visible." In 20 days, the speed ...

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ - In an effort to protect the safety of students coming in and around the ...

GEORGE STREET PLAYHOUSE, NORTH BRUNSWICK, NJ – For the fourth consecutive year, New Jersey Theatre Alliance (“the Alliance”) is inviting professional and family caregivers to submit their personal stories for a theatrical production as part of the Healing Voices OnStage: Caregivers Stories program.

“We have found that this program is a wonderful healing opportunity for individuals to freely ...

GEORGE STREET PLAYHOUSE, NORTH BRUNSWICK, NJ – For the fourth consecutive year, New Jersey Theatre ...

MOORESTOWN, NJ -- The East Brunswick girls basketball team fell behind by 16 points in the first quarter, then rallied to make it a game before losing its opener, 56-51, to Moorestown Friends on the road Friday night.

Brianna Sliwinski scored 22 points to lead the Bears, who outscored Moorestown Friends, 37-26, in the middle quarters after falling behind, 21-5, in the first quarter.

Alyssa ...

MOORESTOWN, NJ -- The East Brunswick girls basketball team fell behind by 16 points in the first ...

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ - In honor of Veterans Day, and to support Wreaths Across America, the Churchill Junior High School students, parents, and staff raised almost $4,000. This generous donation will result in the placement of more than 400 wreaths.